---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001564590-23-002988"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "ACU"
cik: "0000002098"
company_name: "ACME UNITED CORP"
filed_at: "2023-03-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-18T16:22:00.937078+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "negative"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Acme United Q4 net loss $0.17/share; full-year EPS $0.82 vs adjusted $2.57

## Summary
- Q4 net sales $44.1M, down 4% YoY; net loss $597K vs income $2.34M in prior year.
- Full-year net sales $193.9M, up 7% YoY; net income $3.0M ($0.82 diluted) vs adjusted $10.1M ($2.57) in 2021.
- Gross margin fell to 32.0% in Q4 and 32.8% for year due to high ocean container costs and demurrage.
- Bank debt less cash $55M at year-end, up from $40M; inventory increased $10M during 2022.
- Management expects $5M cost savings in 2023 and plans to reduce inventory by $5M.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001564590-23-002988
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: ACU
- cik: 0000002098
- company_name: ACME UNITED CORP
- filed_at: 2023-03-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: negative
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459023002988/0001564590-23-002988-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459023002988/acu-8k_20230302.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-23-002988
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-23-002988.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001564590-23-002988.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  ACME UNITED CORP reported three months ended December 31, 2022 results: revenue $44.1 million, net income -$597,000, EPS ($0.17) per diluted share.
  - Period: three months ended December 31, 2022
  - Revenue: $44.1 million
  - Net income: -$597,000
  - EPS: ($0.17) per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were $44.1 million compared to $45.8 million in the same period of 2021, a decrease of 4% (2% in constant currency). Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $193.9 million compared to $182.1 million in the same period in 2021, an increase of 7% (8% in constant currency). The net loss was $597,000, or ($0.17) per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared to net income of $2,338,000, or $0.60 per diluted share, for the same period in 2021. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $3.0 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared, on an adjusted basis, to $10.1 million, or $2.57 per diluted share (or $13.7 million, or $3.45 per diluted share, including the impact of the PPP loan forgiveness), for the same period in 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459023002988/0001564590-23-002988-index.htm
- Earnings Releases
  ACME UNITED CORP reported year ended December 31, 2022 results: revenue $193.9 million, net income $3.0 million, EPS $0.82 per diluted share.
  - Period: year ended December 31, 2022
  - Revenue: $193.9 million
  - Net income: $3.0 million
  - EPS: $0.82 per diluted share
  - Result: reported results
  source text: Acme United Corporation (NYSE American: ACU) today announced that net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2022 were $44.1 million compared to $45.8 million in the same period of 2021, a decrease of 4% (2% in constant currency). Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2022 were $193.9 million compared to $182.1 million in the same period in 2021, an increase of 7% (8% in constant currency). The net loss was $597,000, or ($0.17) per diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2022, compared to net income of $2,338,000, or $0.60 per diluted share, for the same period in 2021. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $3.0 million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared, on an adjusted basis, to $10.1 million, or $2.57 per diluted share (or $13.7 million, or $3.45 per diluted share, including the impact of the PPP loan forgiveness), for the same period in 2021.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2098/000156459023002988/0001564590-23-002988-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.